Turns out the new version of the most popular distribution and at the same time, controversial: Ubuntu 12.10. When I say popular, I’m not talking about Distrowatch rates and, with controversial talk about Unity, Amazon and some other situations that I have in mind right now.

However, despite rising bad reviews on this distribution, I, in a way, I still feel great interest in its progress and, since version 7.10, witness seek broader changes they implement. I remember there was a big change in aesthetic 10.04 and, thereafter, has followed this line more style OS X . Then came the not well weighted Unity on 10.10 for netbooks, which, aesthetically, never found the taste. Finally here we are with a new release and then give you a tour from installation to first use . Note that I am running the system in a virtual machine.

LiveCD and first home

First, I was struck by some extra added sidebar . Now notice the inclusion of Amazon first sight novelty that is just a link that takes the browser to the site mentioned. Reading the news mentioned the official, indicates that it is possible to add more links to other web services such as Facebook, Gmail, Youtube or some other blog. However, delve on the matter later.

Regarding performance, I have little to say because I’m in a virtual machine. However, despite the slowness, is remarkable how smoothly flowing effects . That is, although I do not work perfectly, are enjoyable and well and luckily, the developers are not taking the path that was trend among users awhile back: fancy stationery with windows that looked and jelly cube to go to a corner completely became uncontrolled. Now everything is fine and discreet. I also notice that before, when you start the virtual machine system, fell into Unity 2D, which does not happen now.

This new version requires 4.8 GB of free disk space while above 4.4 Gb, which is a significant increase considering storage capacity today. On the other hand I found remarkable memory requirement specifying the wiki: 384MB to 768MB (ie twice), but, again, I do not think that is a problem for new computers, on the other hand, could be considered a figure have on the other Ubuntu variants with different graphical environments. Speaking of megabytes and migabytes, has also increased the size of the CD image above 700Mb , so now I do not know whether to call CD . They mention that, from now on, the image is to be taken to a DVD or USB, and in case you need a smaller image, choose both the previous version of Ubuntu or use the netinstall.

Now to the installation. Basically not many points against earlier versions highlight . Even I did not notice any change in the review of the characteristics appearing after completing the time and user settings. So continue with the first boot. Some time ago I had installed the 4.12 that came with Virtualbox working perfectly, but in the new version, the fluidity of the system notices something difficult but primarily still usable.

Features

First, Unity, the most important distinguishing component of Ubuntu, has reached version 6.8. This is where possibly more controversial is the addition of the new release: the finder home includes results from Amazon. So far, I have not seen it is received positively and each will have their own reasons. Personally, I think a good feature to have included an integrated web service in the form of applications , but on the other hand, can not find the advantage to have a service to sell products in our day to day. In a way, trying to persuade the user to purchase at any time.

As explained in an article last MuyLinux, can remove the option to search results from Amazon and problem solved . It should be noted that disabling this option will also disable Internet access to other lenses. Therefore, the best method for those who want to remove, is uninstalling unity-lens-shopping as explained here. Yet I can not help thinking that should be asked the user whether or not to have this feature during installation or, rather, give an option to integrate services with the default search type (say, Wikipedia or a dictionary would be much more productive). Meanwhile, business is business and remember we are talking about a company rather than an operating system.

Returning to the theme of the article, I would like to continue talking about web services as it seems to be one of the novelties of this new edition of Ubuntu. Included now webapps (in addition to those already listed as Gwibber tools to manage social networks). Upon entering a particular site (in my case I did work with YouTube and Facebook) warns that you are somewhere and provides support for installing the webapp.

Basically, once you conectéis with your account on the site, a link will appear in the sidebar and work in a new browser window to behave more independently. More details can be seen in the video presentation though, so I could try, sounds like he’s still half diapers but I see some potential . A final comment on the matter, but not least, is that it works with Firefox and Chromium, but for the latter, you need to install the Unity package chromium-extension .

regard to the versions of the applications, we find GNOME 3.6, Unity 6.8, LibreOffice 3.6.2 and 16.0.1 Firefox. Also updated Software Center (which I shall speak later) that seems to be improving significantly since the last time I tried it. We have Linux 3.5.5 and other general updates. Another important update is related to the issue of Secure Boot: the new version turns out to be as compatible with this new technology .

Appearance

From its origins to today, Ubuntu held a certain fondness with colors orange / brown or nearby . If there is a marked difference from its version 10.04 with its dark color theme, a violet background and the buttons on the left window.

As I said, it was then that he began to incorporate style details OS X (a good example is the Global Menu) and, despite everything, remains personality, especially with Unity . Personally, it’s not the best or the most comfortable I’ve used but I can not deny that I feel a certain attraction.

determinant factor is the typography Ubuntu . Incidentally, in this new version of Ubuntu includes Medium, which is nothing more than a version slightly less populated than the bold. This style not only fits, in my opinion, the windows beautifully but also includes other variants such as fixed width, ideal for consistency font from the terminal to your website. I would say that they would only need a serif version but that’s another story.

His visual style is anything but rough. Everything fits perfectly icons from the panel to the color balance . While I am not a heavy user of Ubuntu, my first impression is of a well-integrated system with its components. It happens sometimes that some programs do not follow the designated visual style and ends up looking sloppy.

Regarding your previous version, I can appreciate no major changes in this section except for the removal of Unity2D that worked very well in a virtual machine. The idea is to unify all the surroundings and avoid incompatibilities between one and the other updates Mesa3D advantage, expanding the use of computers with less resources. Still, the fluidity of Unity is appreciable with a decent computer, otherwise the experience is somewhat disappointing.

I can not help counteract all flattery done before bringing into play the issue of customization . Luckily, there gconf-editor and gsettings to take personalization one step further and Ubuntu Tweak settings to tweak something which is not so visible. In my case, it always bothered me to have the buttons on the left and never understood why this is not in the configuration or, also, which is not installed by default Compiz configurator. Anyway, no solution for almost everything because, do not forget, we are in a GNU / Linux!

Applications

If anything

Ubuntu itself over the years, is probably Center Software , which progress slowly and never saw I was more comfortable than using the old Synaptic. However, to make this system as a time continuously, I find a remodeled app store seems to have taken to justify the Synaptic package installed by default. On the one hand, has the advantage of ordering the software by rating and categories, so, guide the novice user in finding the right application for the job. On the other hand, I do not like the idea that, in the headlines, many programs included payments, not by the fact of being against it has to pay to use it, but it disturbs me so prices meet head on.

previous versions, the Software Center, seems to be much more fluid that had previously experienced. Still not convince me, but for practical purposes, is quite simple and intuitive Synaptic . Another thing that I would emphasize is the importance it is giving support for popular games, once and for all, pull down the old theory that Linux not to play . Also not something totally new but being a long time that I did not give a chance to the Software Center, I find it so.

Earlier I mentioned a couple of updates that, as usual, does not produce big changes. In this case, default Python is introduced in version 3 . While not program let alone regular Python, not sure of the consequences it brings. Nevertheless, in the case of experiencing inconsistency outdated code, you can install on your Python version 2.6 but not older than that . I assume that there will be a very radical change considering that already has a good time since launch (December 3, 2008 to be exact).

Also notable is the dedication to keep everything increasingly integrated . In itself, with the introduction of the webapps, Firefox takes a different role: web services now, you could say, that behave more like individual applications using the browser as a client. As this recent feature has not yet expanded its boundaries much. For now, the main use is to have everything in separate windows and can handle from the launcher. In the official repositories are several extra webapps which are installed, eg Google+, Angry Birds, Yahoo, Twitter and more.

Another example of integration

are KDE applications. Personally I was expecting a disaster, considering the Global Menu and pitcher, see more windows and the like. However, everything seems to work properly . Of course if you use a program that contains more windows within a window, the situation is complicated in some ways, but in my case, Konqueror functions properly and there seems no fault at all with the menu. If we are more picky, we could install KDE configurator and adjust the colors and icons. At least, to get by, it does very well.

Returning to Unity, we have the interesting lenses that expand search in our start menu. From this version includes preview feature for Gwibber lens. This issue is improving eg including support for the Software Center to display the package information without leaving the launcher.

Finally, there are always details that, for practical purposes, do not change the user experience . One is the change of name to the manager updates Software Update. It’s minimal but one of the purposes is to it independent Software Center now having its own package. Jockey also ceased to be the application responsible for installing proprietary drivers for ubuntu Drivers Package-drivers-common . I can not add much about it because, as I said, I’m using it on a virtual machine so I could not test.

Now, leaving aside any aesthetic issue, let the functional. Something I personally feel a weak point in Ubuntu mostly because Unity. First, first thing I can emphasize is the lack of customization . Say, would move the bar away. To do this, you have to use alternative methods, in my case, usually me too lazy. At least, you can adjust the size of the icons in order to make better monitor resolution.

While I was reading reviews of people saying that eventually turns out to be quite comfortable Unity, feel otherwise. At Global Menu find it quite unnatural for a simple reason: if we think of windows as containers, why should access their menus from the top bar? Okay, it was a formula that has proved throughout its history to Macintosh and, if we analyze it from the design side, we can see that reduced size on the screen. Also, I see more effective than each program has its own menus for the simple fact that they have to select each window to access them. However, each will have their position and, for many reasons which states, will be linked to the comfort and custom.

course everything can not be negative . The issue of the lenses I find it very comfortable, especially the application it shows both which are installed as well as those that are available. Suppose you want to start an application erase time ago, it is somewhat frustrating not find it and then remember what happened. Now, simply, is called. If installed runs, otherwise installed. Besides this feature takes advantage of what had already mentioned the previews . So we could dispense indirectly Software Manager and install what you need from the lens of applications.

Finally, going into the details, there are certain things , while not affect much, were annoying me . One is the need to drag the icons out of the bar and then inward to reposition. It’s not something serious, I find the problem that I find it very natural. So to remove the launcher: feel more intuitive drag and drop out. Anyway, that is a matter of habit and does not affect productivity. Still, I wanted to highlight these points.

Conclusion

Ubuntu, over the years, the distribution became more popular to the point that, slowly, the question “why is Linux?” was mutating to become increasingly “that’s Ubuntu ? “. knew renew traditional face GNOME 2 to make it more consumable the users who wanted to escape but longed for Windows on your desktop aesthetics maquera . And still spending time and seems to be finding its place among the most popular operating systems.

regard to all the above, considering Ubuntu as a whole is remarkable effort and will dump it . Consider that to be derived from another project (Debian), won enough independence to the naked eye, away from his ancestor although deep remain so. It’s basically a complete facelift, tailored for those seeking the ultimate of the ultimate but stylish. Gradually was captivating users with such developments and, remember, at the time the goal was to have Ubuntu see the windows turning gelatinous cube.

Today, seeing all your progress since the first time I used the 7.04 or 7.10, enthusiasm makes me see everything seems changed and continue to change regardless of what I like. Its simplicity led to a series of clones that, after all, served to diversity giving rise to Linux Mint, its natural competition. Thereafter, any improvement to achieve, to launch any application for one being better than the other, directly benefits the community.

Ubuntu 12.10, not surprisingly I found a shot as have others but has his stuff . If you have to make something positive from the news, special mention should be made to the webapps which again seems like a really interesting concept, I like to see web services as part of the desktop. On the downside, I have nothing to remark Amazon or Unity2D removal. Both are related, but are definitely things that attract attention in a first moment.

Unity, meanwhile, although I see future converceme not completely finished. Personally I would have liked to continue seeing the Ubuntu 10.04, there all closed with GNOME 2. Unfortunately, we must modernize but fortunately, alternatives remain Kubuntu, Xubuntu and Lubuntu to meet the rest of tastes without necessarily changing the operating system. I only hope for future releases is to see greater flexibility aesthetics being apparently already well stated.

In closing, I can only say that, despite my differences, Ubuntu never disappointed . Nor I am a fan but it is impossible not to be aware of her. In a way it was my starting point to learn new things and ideas, as they have been for other and will remain so. Beyond fanaticism, I think we appreciate the effort put real, some details beyond criticism. Finally, it remains for me to encourage the growth of Ubuntu since, as mentioned earlier, not only benefit themselves, but all of us.

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